The story of Moccasin Run Golf Club is first and foremost a family story. It's a story about a father, Paul King, who knew that his dream for his five sons to work together in the family farming business could never be realized because of the limited amount of farmland he owned.
In the mid-1980s, Paul’s entrepreneurial spirit kicked in, and he decided to turn the 100-acre property that he had owned and farmed for 20 years into a golf course. He believed that this idea would not only preserve the beautiful, rolling land he had grown to love, but would also provide employment for all five of his sons. But much like any big dream, making it happen was anything but simple.
The plan to convert the farm to a golf course was met with strong opposition, with local residents raising concerns of environmental impact, developmental complications, and effects on the price of land. Many firmly believed that a golf course business could not succeed “out here.” But hard work and dedication is something that runs thick in the King family, and one by one each of the challenges were met. In April 1986, groundbreaking took place, and a father’s dream to build a business for his sons was underway.
Unlike a house or a barn, a golf course is not something that is built in a finished state—like any living organism, it is created with future growth in mind. Every tree on the course was planted as a sapling, and it took years of care to nurture them into what you see today. A mix of fescue, rye, and bent grass was specifically chosen for the different playing surfaces of the course, and through education and precise agronomy, Moccasin Run continues to be one of the best-conditioned course in the area.
In those early days, friends were made in the golf community, and golfers were enticed to test this new and unproven course. A pro shop was established in the stone farmhouse on the property, and was later moved into the original clubhouse when it was built. One of Paul’s dearest wishes was to see his paraplegic son, Mike, enjoy fulfilling work in the business. In operating the pro shop for twenty years, Mike made that dream a reality.
Today, Moccasin Run is owned and operated by Paul’s son and daughter-in-law, Curtis & Grace King. Their two sons, Lucas and Hunter, are also heavily involved. The team relies on their faith in Jesus and desires to advance the kingdom of God by serving every guest that comes through the property with grace and kindness. A small but dedicated team helps them live out their daily mission of providing an exceptional golf and leisure experience in a wholesome family setting.
Curt King, Owner
Curt took over the business from his father and four brothers in 2006, and over the last twenty years has done full remodels on the clubhouse, the property farm house, the carriage barn to serve weddings, and has opened a full bar/restaurant. Curt served many years as the superintendent, mechanic, GM, and much more. There’s not a job he doesn’t do, and you’ll often find him on the course driving, or even pushing, a mower on a mission to keep things “hopefully perfect.” Despite having a degree in aviation—a fact most people don’t know—his true experience is in turfgrass science and knowing what it takes to produce a good product. Curt & Grace work as a true servant leadership team to make Moccasin Run a successful operation.
Grace King, Office/Food & Beverage Manager
Grace has an accounting degree, and in addition to doing the bookkeeping for the business she is also responsible for catering, event planning, weddings, and oversight of all pub operations, since it opened in 2014. Like Curt, there’s not much she doesn’t do around the pro shop and restaurant. She has trained her entire staff in food safety and serving, and her presence at the pub ensures you’ll always be welcomed with a friendly greeting and a warm smile.
Lucas King, Director of Clubhouse Operations
The oldest of Curt & Grace’s two sons, Lucas graduated from Penn State University in 2017 with an organizational leadership degree from the Smeal college of Business. After a short career in a different industry, he returned to the grounds he grew up on, taking over the golf operations role in the spring of 2023. He handles all golf operations including tournaments, leagues, and day to day play, and also assists Grace with event and wedding coordination. His goal is for others to experience the same joy he gets from being at the golf course, which he does by leading his team with passion and purpose, and striving for each guest to feel welcomed and cared for. He, along with his brother Hunter, are grateful for the opportunity to continue the King legacy started by their grandfather and carried on by their father.
Hunter King, Golf Course Superintendent
The youngest of Curt & Grace’s two sons, Hunter graduated from Penn State University with a degree in turf science where he studied under some of the top professors in the field. In addition to his schooling, he spent two summers at Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh, PA, a course rated by Golf Digest in 2023 as the third best conditioned course in the United States. Hunter’s combination of experience at Oakmont, his education at PSU, and his years growing up watching his dad, position him as the perfect person to continue the legacy of Moccasin Run being a golf course that is always in good shape. With a strong work ethic and a desire for the course to be as close to perfect as it can be for the everyday golfer, Hunter’s leadership as superintendent will no doubt carry on the great work of his father.